The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate the 2025 winners of the
56th Annual World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest, presented by Alliance Bank:
Honorable Mention Campsite and Costume goes to site # 447, Jason and Angie Keyes
sponsored by Brookshire’s
Campsite and costume winner this year was site #196, Molly Stevens and Randy Brokmeyer
sponsored by Jackson Dental
Their $200 prize was provided by: Super Handy Convenience Stores
Honorable Mention Super Campsite and Costume goes to site # (none)
sponsored by
The John Chester Award for Super Campsite winner is site #202, Roger Fernandez and Aaron Davis
Sponsored by: Boby Evans Farms
Their $250 prize was provided by: Brian Toliver Ford
Tailgate Appetizer Contest third place was site # Patricia Grossenbacher and Aaron Davis
Sponsored by: Bob Evans Farms
Their $75 prize was provided by Robinson Benat Construction
Second place in the Tailgate Appetizer Contest was site #3 Kayla Cooper and Mason Carver
Sponsored by: 2 Wolves Energy
Their $100 prize was provided by Robinson Benat Construction
First place in the Tailgate Appetizer Contest was site #190, Zach Terry and Cam McLaurn
Sponsored by: Kasie’s Canine Academy
Their $200 prize was provided by Robinson Benat Construction
Best New Stew Cook: Site #80, Zach Tiemeyer and Talon Bell
Sponsored by: TLC Chiropractic
Their $100 prize was provided by Bear Littleton State Farm Insurance
Honorable Mention: Beef Stew: Site #128, Brody Clark and Trey Clark
Sponsored by: Safety Control
Third place beef stew winner was the team of #20 Marsha Mince and John Holt
Sponsored by: Data point Surveying
Their $100 prize money was provided by AK Gillis and Sons
Their third-place stew was purchased for $250 by Texas Heritage National Bank
Second place beef stew winner was the team of #47, Darien Shafer and Reed Brenner
Sponsored by: D6, Inc.
Their $150 prize money was provided by The Book Nook on Main
Their second-place stew was purchased for $450 by Clayton Homes
First place beef stew winner was the team of #29, Jeremy Smith and Chris Bryant
Sponsored by: Fizzy Sips
Their $300 prize money was provided by Cattlemen’s Veterinary Services
Their first-place stew was purchased for $600 by Texas Farm Credit
Honorable Mention: Chicken Stew: # 197, Shiloh and Adrian Childress
Sponsored by: Project One Roofing
Third place chicken winner was the team of #463, Ross Cody and Lance Smith
Sponsored by: Clayton Homes
Their prize money of $100 was provided by AK Gillis and Sons
Their third-place stew was purchased for $250 by Brian Toliver Ford Lincoln
Second place chicken stew winner was the team of #30 Luke Kerby and Seth Roberts
Sponsored by: Cross Country Communications
Their prize money of $150 was provided by The Book Nook on Main
Their second-place chicken stew was purchased for $450 by Clayton Homes
First place chicken stew winner was the team of #112 Avery Faulks and Peyton Mitchell
Sponsored by: Self sponsored
Their prize money of $300 was provided by First National Bank of East Texas
Their first-place chicken stew was purchased for $600 by Jay Hodge Chevrolet
Honorable Mention: Super Stew Beef: #60, Robert Cody and Ryan McKenzie
Sponsored by: GSC
Third place Super Stew Beef award was won by #468 Garrett and Laura Glass
Sponsored by: Guaranty Bank
Their prize money of $100 was sponsored by Jiffy Signs
Their third-place Super Stew Beef was purchased for $300 by Oncor Electric Delivery
Second place Super Stew Beef award was won by #202 Roger Fernandez and Aaron Davis
Sponsored by: Bob Evans Farms
Their prize money of $250 was sponsored by Farmers Electric Cooperative
The second-place Super Stew Beef was purchased for $500 by Ziggi’s Coffee
First Place Super Stew Beef winner was the team of #50 Koyt Koon and Anthony Ballard
Sponsored by: Oncor Electric Delivery
Their prize money of $500 was provided by Thoroughbred Wind
Their winning quart of Super Stew Beef was purchased for $900 by Farm Country
Honorable Mention: Super Stew Chicken: #114 Jeff Tiemeyer and Andy Crouch
Sponsored by: The Way Bible Church
Third place Super Stew Chicken award was won by #9 Don Sapaugh and James Van Winkle
Sponsored by: City National Bank
Their prize money of $100 was sponsored by Superior Cleaning
Their third-place Super Stew Chicken was purchased for $300 by Nottingham CDJR
Second place Super Stew Chicken award was won by #87 Brad and Leah Irving
Sponsored by: Ocean Spray
Their prize money of $250 was sponsored by Farmers Electric Cooperative
The second-place Super Stew Chicken was purchased for $ 500 by Ziggi’s Coffee
First Place Super Stew Chicken winner was the team of #117 John Mark and Savanna McAfee
Sponsored by: McAfee Farms
Their prize money of $500 was provided by Thoroughbred Wind
Their winning quart of Super Stew Chicken was purchased for $900 by Interstate Body Shop
We would also like to thank the following sponsors who provided products for the contest:
Alliance Bank – Title Sponsor
City National Bank – Friday night Sponsor
Signature Solar – Kids Eat Free
One Church – Fun Zone Sponsor
Red River Credit Union – Stew Market Sponsor
Berger Horticultural Products – Judges Room Sponsor
Credit Union of Texas – Breakfast Sponsor
Our service tents were generously provided today by:
CHRISTUS Health
Henly Homes
Bob Evans Farms
Our Senior Citizen Tent was provided by Jay Hodge Chevrolet.
Our other sponsors that we couldn’t live without are:
Cross Country Communications, First Baptist Church, Southwest Dairy Museum, Edward Jones – Chris Vorheese, Janet Martin Realty, Saputo, NorTex Tractor and Powersports, Edward Jones – Nichole Rosamond, Atmos Energy, Martin Marietta, Superior Cleaning, Stone Creek Solutions, Latsons.com, Chili’s, Legacy Ag Credit, Hope Family Fellowship, Travel Time RV, Central Baptist Church, Optimum, Chick-fil-A, and Jeff Post.
Finally, thank you to all of our volunteers today!
ABOUT THE STEW CONTEST
Wanna have some authentic East Texas fun and enjoy all the delicious homemade stew you can eat? Then come to the World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest the 4th Saturday in October in Sulphur Springs, TX.
Held on the 4th Saturday in October, the cook-off features over 150 4-person cooking teams competing for several thousand dollars of prize money. Cooking over open wood fires, the teams prepare hearty chicken or beef stew in huge cast iron pots.
Each team must prepare a minimum of 10 gallons so that there is ample stew for judges and spectators. For $8, spectators may visit as many campsites as time and appetite allow. Some contestants use 20 or even 35-gallon iron stew pots. Last year, the 160 cooking teams who entered fed over 7,000 people. The World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest is the biggest event held in Hopkins County throughout the year… and it’s only getting better with time.
Teams entered in the competition start setting up early enough on Saturday to make the 10:30 a.m. deadline for providing samples to the judges. Many teams have begun setting up as early as Friday morning and preparing supper foods such as beans, chili, Dutch oven desserts and more over their campfires for many visitors who tour the stew grounds Friday night. Last year, over 2,000 people were on the stew grounds Friday evening to visit, eat, and reminisce about their favorite memories of the stew contest.
Stew is served at 10:45 a.m., but visitors are encouraged to get to the stew grounds early so that they may walk around, enjoy the atmosphere, and witness the cooking of delicious stew. Teams can even compete for “Best Campsite and Costume” and receive cash prizes.
History of the Competition
The cooking competition began in 1969, but the roots of the dish date from the late 1800s. The county had approximately 100 schools back then, and it became customary to celebrate the end of each school year with stew suppers that were cooked in iron pots over open hardwood fires.
In those days, there were no recipes. Families just brought what they had and threw it in the pot. The meat most likely was squirrel, and typically the most dominant vegetables were potatoes, onions, corn and tomatoes.
There was never a “written” recipe for Hopkins County Stew. However, for the annual cook-off, contestants are encouraged to stay true to the five main ingredients always present in Hopkins County Stew: chicken or beef (no squirrel), potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and corn. Seasonings are completely up to the two-person cooking teams. Most cooks have a secret ingredient that they will keep secret until the day they die, or pass on the tradition to one of their children or grandchildren. Needless to say, no two stews taste alike. Prizes are awarded for the best chicken and best beef stews.
For just $8, attendees will receive a bowl (for all the stew they can eat), along with cheese and crackers. Then, if visitors want to take some stew home, they may purchase quart containers for $15 and enjoy the stew for many nights to come.
We have many sponsorship opportunities available for Stew this year. If your interested please contact the Chamber at 903-885-6515 or email info@hopkinschamber.org for more information.
For more information, please contact the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce at 903-885-6515.
GET YOUR OFFICIAL STEW MERCH
$25.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
$25.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
$25.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
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